Saturday, April 18, 2009

Austin Energy Plans Its Smart Grid 2.0

After defining, architecting and being almost done building our Smart Grid, which will be live and covering 100% of our service territory by August 2009 (yes this year!). Our Smart Grid covers 440 square miles, 500,000 devices, 100 terabytes of data, 1 million consumers and 43,000 businesses, and we are moving very fast to our next phase of evolution.

Our current Smart Grid Program, which we call Smart Grid 1.0, is focused on the utility side of the grid. It is all about systems integration, communications, safety and reliability of electric operations, better and new services, and even better customer service. It goes from the central power plant through the transmission and distribution systems and all the way to the meter and back.

Our Smart Grid 2.0, which will be defined by recommendations of the Pecan Street Project, will be done with its planning by September and will commence deployment soon thereafter. It focus is all about the grid beyond the meter and into the premise (e.g. home, office, store, mall, building) with integration back to our utility grid. Our Smart Grid 2.0 is about managing and leveraging Distributed Generation (Solar PV, Micro Wind, etc), Storage, Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles, Electric Vehicles and Smart Appliances on the customer side of the meter.

The Pecan Street Project is a partnership between Austin Energy, the City of Austin, The University of Texas, The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, The Environmental Defense Fund, Dell, GE, IBM, Intel, Oracle, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Freescale Semiconductor, Sematech, GridPoint, and several others.

Why Smart Grid 2.0? Why the Pecan Street Project?

The power sector, which is responsible for 40 percent of annual energy use in the United States, is the single largest consumer of energy nationwide. The transportation sector, which is responsible for 29 percent of annual energy use in the United States, is the second largest consumer of energy nationwide. These two sectors also depend heavily on depleting resources, are prone to supply or delivery disruptions, and are the leading sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

The vision of the Pecan Street Project is to solve the energy problem in Austin, Texas by reinventing the power sector via moving into new energy models, including interconnecting with the transportation sector.

We want to transform Austin Energy into the urban power system of the future while making the City of Austin and its local partners a local clean energy laboratory and hub for the world’s emerging cleantech sector. In doing so, we seek to prove that it is possible to remake the way we produce, use, store and trade energy in a way that is simultaneously consistent with our economical, environmental, social and security objectives. Implementing this vision will include the following types of innovations:

• Connected homes that incorporate smart end points such as meters, appliances, and local generation, integrated with smart markets and distributed smart grids to enable two-way electricity flow

• Smart home energy control systems/portals that provide citizens with more information, alternatives, and decision support

• Smart appliances and devices that can turn off during times of peak demand or high price, either driven by the energy services provider ’s policies or citizens preferences

• Smart markets that have a price built on supply and demand and therefore varies during the time of day and day of year

• Smart policies and government stimulus approaches that foster the innovation and implementation of these technologies and markets

• Smart working alternatives that provide more green options to citizens, from smart working centers with virtual life size video alternatives to alternative mass transportation to alternative routes to stay at home options.

• Connected and sustainable buildings for management of commercial and personal real estate, either by tenants, owners, and energy services providers

• We are hoping for 300MWs of alternative, distributed generation through distributed wind and solar

The Pecan Street Project will comprise three phases with several parallel efforts. Only the first two phases will be described here. The third phase is a potential new research consortium. The first phase will be complete by the end of August 2009, and will focus on developing an action plan for Austin Energy and identifying key barriers that must be overcome for success. These barriers will be organized into the following categories: technologies, workforce, markets and business models and policies. The technology section will be further organized into those that 1) are ready for implementation (for example motion sensors for hallway lights), 2) need to be tested and verified when integrated into the grid, and 3) need to be developed, as well as by generation, storage, efficiency, and low-tech options.

As technologies are verified over the first few years, they will be moved into implementation. As technologies are developed from research, they will be re-categorized as ready for testing and verification. Policies will also be organized into several additional categories that accelerate adoption with incentive approaches for citizens, energy services providers, the city, and private sector. Stimulus approaches from investments through bonds to taxes incentives to R&D partnership are just some of the methods to build out the desired impact of green economy and Information Communication and Technology (ICT) economy jobs. Some policies will be readily identified for implementation (for example, removing the ability for homeowner’s associations or others to prohibit the installation of solar panels), while others be identified, developed, and worked through the appropriate regulatory, policy, and citizen acceptance models. It is recognized to change behaviors toward the positive opportunities Pecan Street project strives for collaboration between city, state, and federal authorities is critical to ensure higher levels of citizen will power, satisfaction, and desire to contribute to a sustainable economy in Austin.

Just as it took a century to invent today’s energy system, the Pecan Street Project will require many years to reinvent it. Consequently, the cycle of technological innovation and implementation is expected to take place continuously. The inflection point of these two aspects will cause a disruption and accelerate the cycles from multiple decades to a decade or less.

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Andres Carvallo BIO

Andres Carvallo is an award winning engineer, speaker, author, and executive. Andres is globally recognized by the IEEE as one of the early developers of the smart grid concept and technology. Andres championed Austin Energy's industry leading smart grid program design and implementation from 2003 – 2010 and he architected the Pecan Street Project in 2009. Andres co-authored the best selling book "The Advanced Smart Grid", has received 34 industry awards since 2005, and is a popular speaker and guest lecturer. Andres is currently the EVP of Energy Solutions and Chief Strategy Officer at Proximetry. Andres has over 27 years of experience in the Energy, Telecommunications, Computer and Software industries. Andres has held since 1992 P&L responsibilities and senior executive titles while being responsible for the strategy, development, and commercialization of over 40 products at six start-ups and leading global companies like Philips Electronics, Digital Equipment, and Borland. Furthermore, Andres started his career as a product manager for Microsoft Windows in Redmond, WA.

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How to Run IT as a Business?

It all starts with my focus on the customer as the center of the lifecycle. The Lifecycle rules a discovery, planning, and maturity model process that orchestrates a framework. The framework, called RunITbiz, is made out of the 12 critical elements for Running IT as a Business. The elements are rationalized into demand and supply modules. At the core of the RunITbiz framework is a Service Oriented Architecture that leverages all legacy systems while powering new systems built on new open standards (Web Services, XML, BPEL, etc) including cutting edge Web 2.0 tools (Blogs, Wikis, AJAX, RSS, etc).

My RunITbiz Framework has two main modules. One module focuses on Managing IT Demand as a Business and the second one on Managing IT Supply as a Business. Each module has six critical elements to master. Here are the modules and critical elements:

Running IT Supply As A Business: 7. Enterprise Architecture, 8. Vendor Management, 9. Process Management, 10. Project Management, 11. Service Management, 12. Quality ManagementI wish you great success in your transformation. And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reply to any post in this blog or contact me.

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Computers

Top 20 Geek Blogs

1) Lifehacker - http://www.lifehacker.com/ - Lifehackers' motto says it all: "Don't live to geek, geek to live." This blog offers timesavers of just about every stripe, from Firefox shortcuts to tips from the "Getting things done" faithful.

2) IT Toolbox Blogs - http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/ - IT Toolbox has a number of "in the trenches" IT pros who talk about technology and management issues. There are specialist blogs dealing with security, databases and project management, among other subjects. It's a versatile site.

3) Valleywag - http://valleywag.com/ - Bring in the noise, bring in the snark. Valleywag is for those who believe that the tech industry lives or dies by the scuttlebutt pinging around Silicon Valley. And it's amusing for those of us who prefer that the lotus-eaters of Northern California stick with the dishing and tongue-wagging, leaving the rest of us to get the real work done.

4) Kotaku - http://kotaku.com/ - Kotaku is the snarky, gamer uber-blog. It has everything from reviews and gossip to cheat tips. Just about anything you'll ever need, including which game to buy and how to play it.

5) Danger Room - http://blog.wired.com/defense/ - Wired's military and defense blog writes about some of the coolest and scariest military technologies -- not to mention scandals, debates and other military news. Lots of video and imagery are included.

6) Gizmodo - http://gizmodo.com/ - Gizmodo's got the scoop on all the latest toys and cool and wacky inventions -- from high-def TVs and coffee makers to booze belts and USB drives. You've got to love a site that publishes photos of a solar-powered bathing suit. Yeah, they also blog about serious technology news too.

8) Techdirt - http://www.techdirt.com/ - Techdirt is a newsy, "tell it like it is" blog that frequently features debates on the hot issues in the Internet and computer fields. Scandals are a specialty. Simplicity is its hallmark.

9) Groklaw - http://www.groklaw.net/ - Groklaw's raison d'etre is needling SCO in its long-running patent fights against IBM and Novell, but the discussion sometimes veers toward other issues that involve technology, intellectual property, and government regulations.

10) Hack a Day - http://www.hackaday.com/ - Want to learn how to add USB to a cheap Linux router? Create a snake robot? How about an XBox 360 laptop? Hack a Day has these basement projects and many more. This site is for the serious techie. At the same time, it's good for a laugh or a new hobby.

11) Engadget - http://www.engadget.com/ - As Coke is to Pepsi, so Engadget is to Gizmodo. It's all about gear, gossip, techish issues and the occasional rant. It's got great product photos, and the editors have access to pre- and early-release gadgetry. Also, some really funny home-made junk. But we prefer Gizmodo.

12) Feedster - www.feedster.com/feedpapers/Technology - Like drinking from the hose. This Web page brings together blog sites about technology, sports, celebrity gossip, food, personal experiences -- you name it. It also offers a blog search feature that allows you to input words or phrases, and it has a very cool RSS aggregator for news feeds. It also injects some great humor into technology news. An all-around great site.

13) Forever Geek - http://forevergeek.com - Forever Geek is a great site with a myriad blogs on diverse topics, from technology and general interest news to movie and game reviews. Definitely a geek paradise. If you want to learn about the upcoming Iron Man movie or read a review of Photoshop CS3, this is the place to go.

15) Smorgasbord - http://www.smorgasbord.net/ - Billed as a site for gadget- and game-loving geeks, this blog also serves up articles that cross over into the political and celebrity news of the day. The combination of entertainment value and tech news make Smorgasbord a top contender.

16) The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) - http://www.tuaw.com/ - TUAW offers collection of independent bloggers -- that is independent but not undecided or uninformed. It's a good source for Apple-related news. The only reason it didn't make the top 15 was its singular topic focus.

17) Elliot Back's blog - http://elliottback.com/wp/ - A self-professed computer scientist, Elliot posts everything from his opinions on why XML sucks, to the Titanic's passenger list and reviews of movies like 300. This site is diverse and well composed, offering great tips on topics such as increasing system performance and blocking spam.

18) Ed Foster's Gripelog - http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/ - There is a new crop of blogs that highlight poor customer service for consumer electronics, bad UIs and outright rip-offs, but Ed Foster has been doing it longer than anyone else. Check out these recent topics: Defective DRM, tricky warranties on plasma TVs and bad mobile phone service.

19) Gadgetell - http://www.gadgetell.com/ - This is a great site if you want to get the latest gadget and game news along with some topical opinion pieces.

20) 4sysops - http://4sysops.com/ - This is a very useful with well-written tips and how-to's for Windows admins.

About Proximetry

Proximetry develops and commercializes AirSync™, a comprehensive communications network and device management software platform for the energy industry. AirSync delivers secure, scalable, closed-loop control, and policy-based management of devices to build and manage large complex networks built upon multiple vendor platforms that incorporate a vast array of communications technologies. AirSync™ provides the essential tools for energy organizations to provision and manage mission-critical devices and networks. Founded in 2005, Proximetry is privately held, headquartered in San Diego, California, and backed by Munich Venture Partners, Aeris Capital, Investec, and Rembrandt Venture Partners. For more information, please visit www.proximetry.com

Siemens on Proximetry

"The challenge to monitor, control, and manage millions of communicating grid devices from multiple vendors continues to grow dramatically as grid modernization drives usage of a few thousand devices to tens of millions,” said Thierry Godart, president of Siemens Smart Grid Division North America. “Our partnership with Proximetry will allow utilities to better manage this vast proliferation of information and make strides in improving grid reliability.”

Itron on Proximetry

"We believe that Cisco and Proximetry’s joint work to integrate dynamic performance management across multiple network technologies is great evidence that the Connected Grid Ecosystem continues to mature positively. Our common vision of a truly open, interoperable suite of offerings that build off of each other will be a success for utilities and consumers alike. It’s not more of the same,” said Simon Pontin, Chief Technology Officer at Itron.

Cisco on Proximetry

“Cisco is pleased to be working with Proximetry and the AirSync solution, which complements the Connected Grid Field Area Network solution with enhanced RF management capabilities. As a key member of the Connected Grid ecosystem in the Cisco Developer Network, AirSync extends the visibility in the Field Area Network GridBlocks with unique performance management capabilities”, said Jennifer Lin, Sr. Director of Product Marketing from Cisco’s Connected Energy Networks BU.

Why is AirSync Better?

1) ALL other NMS/OSS products in the market use only SNMP to provide monitoring and alarms for devices, AirSync supports SNMP and it also uses a lightweight protocol (pre-CoAP) to manage devices with closed-loop control and policy-based functionality via an agent. AirSync’s pre-CoAP protocol solves the disadvantages of SNMP for the Smart Grid (i.e. too chatty, non-stop polling, and no integrated firmware management).

2) All other NMS/OSS products are focused on telecom WAN management only (i.e. routers, switches in telco domain) while AirSync can manage the WAN and its elements, it also can go deeper into the FAN, LAN, and PAN (including the AMI network). Furthermore, AirSync manages all devices hanging on those networks(e.g. electric/gas/water meters, inverters, IDEs, RTUs, Programmable Logic Controllers, premise gateways, premise routers, and sensors in general). It is important to note that All other NMS/OSS products in the market do not manage smart meters and/or any sensors on the edge of a FAN, LAN, or PAN, but AirSync does.

3) All other NMS/OSS products in the market do NOT provide any firmware management capabilities or if they do it is very limited. And they DO NOT support FANs, LANs, and PANs. And they DO NOT provide closed-loop control of any edge devices from any vendor on any network using any topology. AirSync delivers all of the above.

4) AirSync has unique features to manage ALL networks with many configurable enhancements like shaping the traffic and QoS management by having an agent on the device side unlike All other NMS/OSS products in the market which depend only on SNMP and lack such an ability.

Bottom line: All other NMS/OSS products in the market deliver only classical and limited WAN NMS/OSS capabilities. AirSync delivers all that far better and it can also support FAN/LAN/PAN/device/firmware management functions and help manage deeper into all the networks. AirSync has a well-defined NBI that can be used to interface with any NMS/OSS and provide the utility with an integrated management system with the utility's preferred GUI but with all the advantages of AirSync.

Bottom line: All other NMS/OSS products in the market deliver only classical and limited WAN NMS/OSS capabilities. AirSync delivers all that far better and it can also support FAN/LAN/PAN/device/firmware management functions and help manage deeper into all the networks. AirSync has a well-defined NBI that can be used to interface with any NMS/OSS and provide the utility with an integrated management system with the utility's preferred GUI but with all the advantages of AirSync.